Expert Opinions about Distance Education Research in Developing Countries.

Experts on distance education in developing countries were asked their opinions regarding the availability of research information, areas in which research efforts should be concentrated, and the order of priority to be given to various research areas in distance education. Five-page questionnaires were mailed to 90 randomly selected members of the International Council for Distance Education. Usable questionnaires were received from 33 persons (20 males and 13 females) for a response rate of 37 percent. More than 40 percent of the respondents agreed that little research information was available on the following: learner characteristics, development of students' study skills, expert learning systems, and professional development of distance education. More than 70 percent of the respondents agreed that the research efforts should be concentrated in the following areas: design and development of study materials, instructional and communications technologies, learner characteristics, development of students' study skills, systems for providing feedback to students, teacher education, teleteaching and learning, management and planning, and student support services. Funding, lack of personal interest in research projects, and ability to find a researchable problem were ranked as the three biggest problems facing researchers in distance education. (MN)